Head of Equality and Inclusion – Olympic Delivery Authority
Reference: ODA 126
Reports to: Director of Finance and Corporate Services
Responsible for: The overall leadership and management of the integrated ODA Delivery Partner Equality Inclusion Team. This post is directly accountable for managing the work of the integrated team (see attached organagram
of the team structure).
Role description
The Head of Equality Inclusion leads and co-ordinates the work of the Olympic Delivery Authority on one of its priority cross-cutting themes: Equality and Inclusion.
They are responsible for developing and delivering the frameworks and strategies to ensure that the ODA, working closely with key partners, achieves maximum direct and indirect impact in promoting equality and inclusion.
In summary, the responsibilities of the role fall within three distinct strands:
* Strategic leadership: setting the agenda on behalf of the ODA and ensuring that the aims and outcomes of its equality and diversity strategy are achieved. Working with key partners at national, regional and local level to ensure that the Games act as a catalyst for promoting equality and inclusion in design, employment, training and business opportunities.
* Organisational: ensuring that equality and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of the ODA’s activities and that the ODA is an exemplar in meeting its statutory duties to promote race, gender and disability equality.
* Contractual: The procurement, supply chain and delivery of contracts – ensuring that all the ODA’s contractors, throughout the supply chain, actively promote equality and inclusion and contribute toward achieving the ODA’s aims and outcomes on equality.
Principal accountabilities
* Overall responsibility for further developing and delivering the ODA’s Equality and Diversity strategy
* Fulfil the ODA’s external ‘ambassadorial’ role for equality, diversity and inclusion, acting as the natural point of contact for key stakeholders and leading on specific projects relating to the area; stakeholders will include LOCOG, Greater London Authority, DCMS and other government departments, the London Development Agency and Five Host Boroughs
* Work with the Head of External Relations to ensure that the ODA effectively engages with targeted equality groups in the local area, so as to enable the delivery of the Equality and Diversity Strategy
* Ensure that the organisation is an exemplar in meeting its statutory duties to promote race, gender and disability equality and that it meets all its statutory obligations in relation to equality and discrimination; develop and monitor the delivery of the ODA’s Race, Gender and Disability Equality Schemes
* Work with teams and individuals across the organisation in the development and delivery of Equality Impact Assessments for all major ODA projects and relevant functions
* Ensure that equality and inclusion are integrated into all the ODA’s business processes, acting as the ODA’s lead ‘champion’ for themes of equality, diversity and inclusion, supporting senior colleagues, functional areas (such as procurement, communications and HR) and the Equality Diversity Board with issues relating to these themes and ensure that the ODA’s work in these areas is consistent
* Work with the Heads of HR in ODA and CLM to ensure that internal plans on equality and diversity in employment are developed and delivered and that organisational and individual competence in equality and inclusion is continuously improved
* Act as the client in relation to the ODA’s Delivery Partner, CLM, in respect of all the Delivery Partner’s responsibilities for delivering the equality and diversity strategy and meeting statutory obligations
* Ensure that effective systems and performance management, including targets, operate in respect of the ODA’s contractors and supply chain
* Disseminate, evaluate and respond on behalf of the ODA to all relevant data and information regarding Equality Diversity, ensuring that the ODA is performing against the targets it has set itself and, if need be, refining its framework and strategies for delivery in order to address any failures
* Working with the Head of Employment and Training, ensure that equality and inclusion is fully integrated into all programmes developed in partnership with external stakeholders to enhance the skills base in the areas directly surrounding the Olympic Park in East London, ensuring that they are designed to tackle economic underperformance, inequalities and underachievement and ensuring lasting benefits for all communities
* Together with the ODA’s Procurement team and Head of Employment Training: ensure that minority-owned and local businesses can maximise the opportunities generated by the work of the ODA; manage the supply chain to support the growth of key sectors/markets within the area and implementing strategies that will develop and enhance the local supply chain and minority business networks
* Work collaboratively with the Heads of other priority themes (Sustainability, Health and Safety, Security, Design Accessibility, Legacy) to ensure effective policy deployment across all of the ODA’s projects
* Resource and manage a team of equality, diversity and inclusion professionals to deliver the ODA’s aims on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Person specification
In your written application, please give evidence of proven experience in response to as many of the criteria listed in “Part One” of the Person Specification as possible.
These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview, together with the other criteria listed in “Part Two”.
It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong record across a broad range of the criteria in both Part One and Part Two:
Part 1 – Key experience
* Proven track record of success of operating at the highest level in leading and managing the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda of a large, complex organisation; experience of working across different industries and sectors, with a track record in development, regeneration or construction being a distinct advantage
* Experience of working closely or within the public sector on diversity, equality and inclusion issues that in turn demonstrates a strong understanding of the ODA’s statutory obligations within these areas
* Experience of developing frameworks/strategies that deliver successful equality and diversity outcomes through projects, both internally and externally through supply chains
* Sound knowledge and successful experience of developing and implementing Equality Impact Assessments
* Experience of successfully managing, monitoring and reporting on the performance of key equality and diversity objectives
* Proven track record of success of working in partnership with a range of public and private sector organisations, effectively managing stakeholder issues relating to equality and diversity
* Significant evidence of using representational / ambassadorial ability, particularly in the context of engaging government, public/private sectors and local communities
Part 2 – Abilities, skills and knowledge
* Ability to think and act strategically and to translate complex ideas into deliverable outcomes; able to respond quickly to changing complex circumstances whilst maintaining a clear view of overall priorities
* Highly developed oral, written and presentation skills with the ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner with a wide range of audiences
* Promote and articulate the key priorities of the ODA, communicating high level vision and broad objectives into clear and concise messages under intense media and public pressure
* Understanding the particular challenges associated with the role of the ODA in the context of the area surrounding the Olympic Park within East London and in securing a lasting legacy for the region
* Ability to propose, develop and implement effective Contract Management strategies in pursuit of agreed goals, exercising judgement and making clear, informed, appropriate, pragmatic and timely decisions within a highly pressurised environment
* Highly developed interpersonal and team working skills, and a proven ability to form partnerships, motivate, enthuse and drive individuals and their application at an operational and strategic level
* Understanding of the diverse stakeholders within the ODA’s remit and an appreciation of the strategies that may be needed to engage effectively with them
* An ability to effectively operate at all levels, including working with diverse local communities, through personal example, open commitment and clear action; an ability to develop positive relationships that generate confidence and respect at all levels with a diverse range of individuals, organisations and communities
* Highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to influence decision-makers and stakeholders at the highest level
* A highly sophisticated appreciation of how to work effectively at the public/private/community interface
* A good understanding of programme management; proven ability, at the strategic level, to manage budgets, projects and programmes of work to defined, agreed targets and priorities
* A CIPD qualification or a relevant post-graduate degree would be an advantage, but is not essential
Personal style and behaviour
* Respected for a reputation and track record of delivering and getting things done
* A highly presentable and persuasive communicator; personal and professional demeanour/credibility that will command the immediate confidence of a range of stakeholders
* Articulate, dynamic, energetic, self-motivated, committed and enthusiastic
* Convincing in terms of a capacity to translate broad objectives into effective practical steps
* Leads by example; inclusive rather than exclusive; prepared to share expertise, know how and skills
* Commitment to the ODA’s priorities, the pre/post bid commitments made to London and the IOC and the Olympic values
* Commitment to driving the physical, social, environmental and economic priorities of the ODA
* Highly innovative; thinks outside traditional boundaries and ways of doing things; anticipatory – encouraging a forward-looking inquisitive approach that maximises opportunities before they are lost and that shrinks risk in good time
* High degree of probity and integrity; committed to the activities and actions of the ODA and a commitment to the Olympic values
Terms and conditions
Salary
Competitive salary package
Other benefits
Discretionary bonus payments will be paid as a percentage of base salary and will be determined by the achievement of corporate, functional and individual objectives assessed by the performance management rating that an individual receives.
You will be reimbursed for travelling expenses (other than travel to and from work), accommodation or other expenses in the course of carrying out your role provided that any expenses are incurred in accordance with the terms of the ODA’s policy.
Leave
25 days’ paid annual leave per annum in addition to the usual public holidays.
Notice period
Three months.
Pension
You will be offered membership of a stakeholder pension scheme and an employer contribution of 6% of your basic salary will be made. You may also contribute to the scheme, subject to the maximum allowed by current HM Revenue and Customs limits.
Normal place of work
Canary Wharf.
Political restrictions
There are statutory restrictions on the political activities that some of the ODA’s employees can undertake and details of these restrictions are available from the HR team.
If you have further questions about the role once you have read through the job description and person specification, please feel free to contact Bambos Eracleous on 020 7017 0916 or [email protected]
How to apply
